Door-control apparatus



Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,706

. H. BE R noon com; AAAAAAAAA us Berger,

Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,706

H. BERGER DQOR CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1924 3.Sheets-Sheet 2 3'3 v Irwenfvr:

N Iar y B rger.

1924 s Sheets-Sheet s H. BYERGER noon CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25

l L\ \\\N\\ N Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES HARRY BERGER, OF BOCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK.

DOOR-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed September 25, 1924. Serial No. 739,834.

This invention relates to door operating means; an object of which is to provide a device in connection with a door, gate or closure member whereby the same may be automatically opened upon operation of prescribed mechanism, and automatically closed and maintained in closed position immediately the door or member reaches a predetermined open position.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide mechanism of the character and for the purpose stated which is positive in both opening and closing movements and which automatically resets itself at proper times.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of a simple nature for performing the aforesaid functions and which is operated with little effort.

Still further objects reside in the provision of a device of this character, featured by the lack of complicated mechanism,

which involves but few simple and readily assembled parts, which has its parts so constructed and assembled as to obviate the pos sibility of wear, breakage or derangement, which may be readily applied to a door or other closure member, and which will prove highly effective in its operations.

\Vith these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring now more particuarly to the drawings I Fig. l is an elevation showinga door of conventional form with the improved operating mechanism applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the operating mechanism and showing some of the parts thereof in the position they will assume when the door is open.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the housing for the mechanism and showing the parts in the position they will assume with the doorclosed.

Fig. 4is a plan view of the mechanism in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing the belt actuated switch,

Fig. 6 is a face View of the switch, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through manually operated switch used in carrying out the invention.

connected at one end to the frame of the doltfn' and at its opposite end to the door itse The mechanism for closing the door is contained within a case or house 12 secured to the frame 8. Arranged within this house is an electric motor 13, having its shaft 14 provided with a pinion 15 in mesh with a relatively large gear 16 having its shaft 17 mounted in suitable standards 18 adjacent to the motor. This shaft is equipped with 30 a drum 19, to which one end of a flexible belt 20 is secured. This belt passes from the drum to the exterior of the casing through a suitable opening therein and over a roller 21; being connected at the outer 35 end to the door 9.

Arranged within the house and adjacent to the belt 20, is a belt actuated switch device, including a fixed element or support 22 formed preferably of insulating material,

and having a metallic arm 23 pivoted as at 24st its lower end to the said support. This arm extends upwardly from the said sup port relatively close to'one edge of the belt 20, and is connected at its other end, as by means of a link with a pawl 26 pivoted upon one of the supports 18 for engagement with a ratchet wheel 27 carried by shaft 17. The link 25 has springs 28 connecting its ends with the pawl and switch arm respectively.

The switch support 22 provided with a contact member 29, which is adapted at certain ends to be engaged by the metallic arm 23, while the said support is provided centrally thereof with a latch 30 adapted when in projected position to engage behind the arm 23 and to lock the same against retraction. This latch 30 is normally forced in extended or arm locking position by a spring 31 suitably arranged upon the support 22, and the rear end of the latch is provided with a hook 32 to which one end of a flexible operating n'iember such as cable or wire 33, is cor. ected.

This retracting member passes through a suitable housing 3st within the casing 12, and is attached at its outer end to an eye 35 carried by and insulated from the inner end of a plunger 36 forming a part of a manually operated switch. The plunger 36 is longitudinally slidable within a wall of the casing 12, and is provided at its outer end with a finger grip or head 37 for convenient manipulation. A block 38 of insulating material arranged upon the interior of casing 12 also slid-ably receives plunger 36, and conductor arms 39 project inwardly toward each other from this block to engage at their ends upon opposite sides of a contact head 10 on the inner end of the said plunger. The outer extremities of arms 39 are secured to the block 38 by means of contacts or binding posts 11. As heretofore stated, the extreme inner end of plunger 36 is provided with an insulating tip 12, to which the eye 35 is secured.

The motor 13 receives its energy from a battery l3 which may be arranged within the case, or the energy may be supplied from any other suitable source. To one side of the battery =13 is connected a wire or other conductor H which leads to and is connected with the pivot 2a of the switch arm 23. A conductor 45 leads from the other side of the battery to one of the posts &1 of the manually operated switch, and a conductor 46 leads from the other post ll to one side of the motor as indicated at 17. The other side of the motor (a8) is connected with the contact member 29 by a conductor 19.

The belt is provided with a lever actuating detent 50, and this detent is so positioned upon the belt as to engage and move the arm 23 a predetermined distance in one cycle of the operation.

In operation, normally, that is with the door closed, the parts will assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and l. The inner portion of the belt 20 will be wound upon the drum 19, the pawl 26 will be engaged with pinion 27 to hold the drum against retrograde rotation, and the detent 50 will have moved the arm 23 to such position as to permit locking of the drum as well as to be disengaged from contact 29. The circuit through the motor, therefore, will be open. When it is desired to open the door, the plunger 36 will be pulled outwardly to such position that the inner ends of arms 39 will be engaged with insulated head e2. This withdrawal of plunger 36 retracts the latch 30 which instantly releases arm 23, and the latter is at once retracted by a spring 51 connecting the said arm with the support 22. This movement of the arm withdraws the pawl 26 from engagement with the ratchet 27, whereupon the latter is released to retrograde movement by the belt 20. Though the detent 5O abuts the lever 23 when the pawl 26 is engaged with the ratchet 27, the flexibility of said belt 20 is su'fiicient to permit a slight retraction of said detent 50 when said lever 23 is moved rearwardly under the influence of said spring 51, thus re leasing the parts as aforesaid. As soon as the belt is released, the spring 11 upon the door moves the latter to open position, and in so moving it draws the belt outwardly and unwinds the same from the drum. The arm 23 moves outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that contact between the said arm is made with contact point 29. The plunger 36 which was first moved outwardly by manual operation may be then similarly moved inwards until the arms 39 engage the head 40 thereof, or the said plunger may be provided with a spring 53 to automatically return the plunger to the said position. The circuit will therefor be at once closed, and the motor thus energized will at once operate to wind the drum 19 so as to tension the belt 20 when the belt has been wound sufiiciently to close the door; the detent will engage the arm 23 and move the same out of engagement with contact point 29, thus deenergizing the motor and at the same time causing the pawl 26 to lock the drum against unwinding action. The mechanism therefor automatically resets itself for further operation.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have constructed door actuating mechanism which is positive in its various operations and which is thoroughly capable of attaining the several objects set forth. lVhile the foregoing, however, isa description of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it is at once apparent that changes in he detail of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a door, a drum, a ratchet wheel on said drum, a motor to operate said drum, a belt connecting said drum and said door, a switch arm in the circuit of said motor, a detent on said belt to engage said arm to open said circuit when the belt has moved a predetermined distance, and a pawl for said ratchet wheel connected with said arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a door, a drum, a belt connecting said drum and said door, a motor to operate said drum, a switch arm in the circuit of said motor, means on said belt to move said arm in open circuit position, a latch to hold said arm in open circuit position, means tending normally to return said arm to closed position, and

manually operated means for withdrawing said latch.

3. In a device of the class described, a door, a drum, a belt connecting said drum and said door, a motor to operate said drum, a switch arm in the circuit of said motor, a drum locking member, a connection between said locking member and said arm, means operated by said belt for moving said arm in one direction, a spring tending normally to 10 ing device on said plunger in connection 15 with the circuit of said motor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY BERGER. 

